I have just started on a 30 day strict Paleo diet before I try Crossfit in August. Was just looking for other Paleo eaters to commune with and pick your brains a bit!
I have been doing it for 4 days and love it! I was a serious candy addict and am shocked that I dont even think about it. I used to eat between 3000-4000 calories a day and I have only eaten 1300 cals a day on Paleo, simply because I am full! I am not trying to restrict myself, I am just not hungry at the end of the day.
I cheat more than most hardcore paleo plans allow, and I kept the dairy, but otherwise I follow pretty closely. I rely on sites like fastpaleo and marksdailyapple for recipes.
I'm not paleo, but nutritional ketosis isn't that far off, though I do have dairy. I am thinking that ultimately, when I get closer to goal, I'll switch over closer to paleo, though I know I can never handle something as yummy as a sweet potato.
I am doing Paleo super strict: all grass fed meat, wild fish,omega 3 eggs, grass fed butter only, no dairy, no grains, and limit myself to two fruits a day. the rest is veggies and healthy fat (lots of avocado, nuts-once a day). I also only drink water (sometimes infused with cucumber) and herbal tea.
The carb cravings are gone. When I think about sweets (my downfall), I am noticing it isnt a craving for the taste, but rather the habit of eating it.
I am not having headaches or any other side effects, but now have to get used to cooking every meal again!
All of my bloat is gone for sure and I have already lost inches in the last 4 days.
I just wonder if there will be side effects later (like after three months). Anybody experience any?
The only "side effects" that I've seen/had are some random hardcore cravings for sushi rolls (the only food that I really miss) and increased grocery bills, but I'd rather pay more for good food now than for doctors/pills later.
PaleoPeanut - I hear you on the sushi rolls! I never knew how much I really enjoyed rice!
I have been on it 5 full days now, 9lbs down, and already see a reduction in leg swelling that I thought all this time was fat, but now I see was either water or inflammation. Crazy!
My stomach was pretty regularly bloated and upset when I was eating grains. When I stopped, I deflated. I can totally relate to the reduction in swelling that you're seeing. I think that I lost a pants size just because my stomach stopped bloating. Hope you see similar results. It's crazy how something so innocent looking (grains) and so prevalent in our diets can really mess up our bodies.
I'm sure I'm probably not telling you anything new, but I remember when I first started eating Paleo I felt better the very next day... and got addicted to that feeling; to having more energy and less bloating. It didn't feel like work and the food choices started to natural. When my brain starts thinking about rice, my stomach does a few flips and all of the sudden that rice doesn't sound so yummy any more.
I've got 2 fixes for the no sushi rolls issue! =)
eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/paleo-sushi-salmon-avocado-recipe/
paleogirlskitchen.com/2011/01/paleo-sushiits-just-how-i-roll.html
For the first recipe, if it's too much cucumber, you can very thinly slice cucumbers the long way on something like a mandolin and then wrap them around what you're putting inside the roll.
PaleoPeanut: The recipes are awesome! I'm gonna give it a try!
I agree on the swelling. Just last week I went to get a pedicure and almost cried when the woman tried to give me the calf massage. Any pressure on my lower legs was extremely painful. Then this morning my DD was laying on me and I started tickling her and she rolled off my legs and put her elbow right in my calf and no abnormal pain! It took me a minute to realize it!
And I had the same thing with stomach bloat. Lost 3 inches off my waist just in the last 6 days!
Super easy to follow this lifestyle and I am not hungry, nor have I been craving any carbs... I am really excited to continue!
I'm mostly Paleo. I am very soy and carb sensitive, and a type 2 diabetic managing with diet and exercise alone, so Paleo is what I do. The only dairy I have is heavy cream in my coffee and very low carb cheeses. And occasionally I'll eat some whole milk Greek yogurt or labneh.
I don't eat fruit or any starchy vegetables, and definitely no grains or legumes. But I do eat A LOT of leafy greens and other non-starchy veg. Been playing with cauliflower a lot. I recently made a tabbouleh salad with grated cauliflower instead of bulgur wheat. I've lightly steamed it and chopped it up and used it instead of rice as a base for Indian curries or Asian stir fries. Next I plan to substitute it for potatoes in a creamy "potato" salad. Going to sneak it on the kids and see what they say!
I really love eating the grass-fed meats and wild-caught seafood. I've been enjoying bison lately, plus sardines and salmon. And on the 4th of July, I ate a couple bison hot dogs on romaine leaves with mustard and olive oil mayo. Yum!
As for fats, I do have avocados often during the week. I used good Greek, Spanish or California olive oils. I like them fruity and strong-tasting! I use ghee and some organic nut and seed oils, depending on what I'm cooking. I have tried to use coconut oil, but it seems I'm really sensitive to that as well. Really tears up my stomach!
I love to snack on cocoa nibs and that has pretty much taken care of my chocolate cravings. But sometimes, I just gotta have chocolate. I will only get chocolate with 70% cocoa and no soy lecithin in it.
I've been eating like this for a few years now. When I go off program, I have problems and I gain weight again. But I've been able to stay off diabetes meds for ten years!
Geobliss: Wow, that is inspiring, as is your weight loss!
I have been very healthy despite my weight, but I know as I get older I would be at risk for diabetes, etc so I wanted to do something now before I got there. I am so glad Paleo had such wonderful results for you!
I am still in the first 30 days so I am trying to be super strict, no dairy, grains, starchy vegetables, only berries, melon and oranges, only omega 3 eggs and grass fed meat/wild proteins and no sugar/sweeteners of any kind.
Been a great detox so far and I have not really had any carb cravings! When i get a sweet tooth I just have an orange or strawberries and I am good to go!
Did you have any side effects as you body detoxed?
It's been great and I can't really stop recommending paleo to anyone who is looking to change their lifestyle rather than a quick fix solution. My personal trainer who introduced me to it said to give it two months, and to see how I felt. I felt great and continued and can't look back.
I have PCOS and hypothyroidism and my issue is that I forget to eat so my main side effect is that my thyroid and weight loss has slowed down. I am slowly getting back on track, but allowing myself gluten-free oats and wild rice in a way to carb up and get my body going again on days when I've trained. My only issue is when I do that, I spend the next day feeling really tired and sluggish.
I did initially get the "low carb flu" the first time, and I caved to it by going back to bread for a bit. I stay pretty perfect for about a week and only lose a couple pounds at first, but by the second week, the weight loss speeds up. Then about a month in I start to lose resolve and the saboteurs (my sons) start asking me to make waffles for them again. And the next thing I know, I have to start all over again. But now I don't get the carb flu any more. The longest I've stayed on track was a year.
I have issues with my thyroid too, and I was starting to feel really sluggish. But I was also struggling with insomnia at the time, something that bothers me a lot still. As long as I can get enough sleep every day, I make good food choices and have a lot of energy.
I have also been using intermittent fasting over the last few years. When I started struggling with sleep, that fell apart too. I can't seem to lose weight doing just Paleolithic or just IF. Have to do them together.
Is anyone else Paleo?
